Crosby leads Penguins to 3-2 shootout win

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Sidney Crosby scored two third period goals, including the only goal in the shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins over-came a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 Friday night at Mellon Arena for their seventh straight win.

Pittsburgh has that championship swagger about them through 10 games of the season; They find ways to win.

Minus Sergei Gonchar for the first time this season, Pittsburgh came out flat and the Florida Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Steve Reinprecht (3, 4,).

Tomas Vokoun (41 saves) continued to shut the door for the Panthers after a scoreless second period and the Panthers appeared to be on their way to an impressive win in Pittsburgh after a disappointing 5-2 loss Wednesday night against Buffalo.

But, Pittsburgh made timely adjustments and Sidney Crosby playing in his 300th career game, took over the third period with some help from star center Evgeni Malkin

Crosby scored twice in the third period including a shorthanded goal with 3:19 left in the third period to tie the game at 2-2 and force over-time.

Crosby and Evgeni Malkin rarely see time together on the penalty kill but with the Penguins down a goal, Bylsma put the dynamic duo out together and it paid dividends.

Malkin assisted on both of Crosby’s goals and had the primary assist on Crosby’s short-handed tally.

After a scoreless overtime, Crosby came up big again beating goaltender Tomas Vokoun with a nifty deke for the lone shootout goal.

Pittsburgh won the shootout 1-0 thanks to Crosby and backup goaltender Brent Johnson. Johnson made 27 saves to earn his first win with the Penguins and was 3-for-3 in the shootout.

Pittsburgh is 3-0 on a five game home-stand that resumes Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils.

Post-Game Notes

Pittsburgh has won 9 games in the month of October for the first time in franchise history.

Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun (1-6) made 41 saves in the loss. Vokoun is winless since the Panthers season opener.

Defenseman Martin Skoula made his season debut, replacing Sergei Gonchar (wrist) in the lineup.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.